Infosys boss pushes for UK visa relaxations

Visa Bureau is not affiliated with the Australian Government but is an independent UK company. Australian visas are available from the Australian Government at a lower cost or for free when you apply directly. Our comprehensive visa and immigration services include immigration advice from registered migration agents, a 100% success rate, document checking and expedited visa processing.

The head of professional services giant Infosys has reportedly urged Business Secretary Vince Cable to relax UK visa restrictions to allow more foreign talent to move to the UK.

Infosys chief Kris Gopalakrishnan said UK visa restrictions could have long term impacts on the economy.

The Conservative-led coalition Government has tightened UK visa restrictions during its term in office as part of its effort to reduce net migration to the UK to the 'tens of thousands' by the end of the current parliament.

While the Government's changes have ignited in many different aspects of the debate, Infosys chief Kris Gopalakrishnan said the changes were making it harder for companies such as the outsourcing giant to grow in the UK.

Speaking before a trade mission to London Mr Gopalakrishnan said visa restrictions were tightening in several countries due to poor economic conditions but warned that hindering international business growth could have longer term effects.

"The process [of obtaining visas] is different in each of the countries [but] the problems are similar because, unemployment has gone up, countries have tightened their visas," said Mr Gopalakrishnan.

"We need to make sure there is no long-term impact. Globally, we are all becoming services economies. The free movement of professionals is clubbed with immigration which is a different category.

"We need to separate these things out."

Business Secretary Vince Cable has previously said that he supports separating different issues within the immigration debate out to address each one separately and is reported to have had 'genuinely warm' talks with Mr Gopalakrishnan.

The UK Visa Bureau is an independent immigration consultancy specialising in helping people prepare for their UK Ancestry Visa application.